Horse-detacher.



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PATENT WlLLlAM O. VINCENT, OF BRACKETTEVILLE, TEXAS.

HORSE-DETACHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,354, dated January 1, 1901.

Application filed April 13, 1900.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM O. VINCENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bracketteville, in the county of Kinney and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Horse- Detacher, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to horse-detachers, and has for one of its objects to provide animproved device of this character which is to be fitted to the ends of a whiftletree and is designed to disconnect vthe trace from the whifetree.

A further object is to provide means for conveniently operating the device from the body of the vehicle so as to release both traces simultaneously and also to support the thills in an elevated position, so as to prevent them being driven into the ground and to enable the driver to guide the vehicle after the horse has been released, and nally to provide a spring-actuated device, so as to' insure a positive locking of the trace, the parts of the device being arranged to protect the spring against damage by contact with the releasinglever.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scope of the claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a whiffletree provided with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of a horse-detacherconstructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof.

Corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings are designated by like characters of reference.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, 1 designates a ferrule, which is designed to be fitted to one end of a whifiietree and is open at opposite ends. At the outer end of the ferrule there is provided a hollow box-like extension 2, which is offset at Serial N0. 12,755. (No model.)

the front side of the ferrule and has its outer end closed by the wall 3, and diametrically opposite, in the rear face of the ferrule, there is provided a longitudinal bifurcation 4, and inwardly from the inner end of this bifurcation is a slot or opening 5, which, in effect, forms a transverse bar or shoulder 6 intermediate of the ends of the bifurcation. Located in a plane at substantially right angles to that of the box 2 and the bifurcation are the opposite outwardly-projecting arms 7, that form a fork which is disposed at the rear side of the ferrule. Pivoted between the opposite ends of the arms of the fork is a rock-bar 8, which is normally disposed in a vertical position,and extending inwardlyinto the adjacent open end of the ferrule is a transverse pin 9, which is located substantially midway between the opposite arms.

Ext-ending diametrically across the outer end of the ferrule is a lever 10, which has its forward end located within the box 2 and fulcrumed therein upon the pivot-pin ll, so that the outer wall 3 of the box may form a stop to limit the outward movement of the lever. The rear portion of the lever extends outwardly through the bifurcation in the ferrule, and connected to the inner side of its free extremity is a leaf-spring 12, which has its inner free end passed loosely through the opening or slot 5 in the ferrule, so as to be separated from the lever, by means ot' the transverse bar or shoulder 6. The purpose of this spring is to normally force the o uter free end of the lever outwardly, so as to normally receive the free end of the pin 9 within the intermediate opening or perforation 13, whereby the pin is locked.

In the application of the device a ferrule of the hereinbefore-described character is titted to each end of an ordinary whifiietree 14:, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, and a trace 15 is engaged with the adjacent pin 9 by pressing the free end of the lever inwardly todisengage the pin therefrom, whereby the pin may be swung rearwardly or forwardly, as may be desired, to be received within one of the usual openings in the trace, after which the latter is pulled forwardly, so that the free end of the pin may press the lever inwardly until opposite the opening 13 therein, when said lever will automatically snap into en- IOO gagement with the pin to normally hold it in its locked position. To release the trace, it is merely necessary to force the free end of the lever inwardly, thereby freeing the pin, which will swing forward with the strain upon the trace, and thereby release the latter.

To permit of both devices being operated simultaneously by the driver, who is in the vehicle, the rear end of each lever is provided with a link 16 for connection with the outer end of ast-rap or other flexible connection 17, which passes inwardly and loosely through a screw-eye 1S, that also forms a fastening for the ferrule, and thence to another guide 19. It is preferable to employ a single strap 17, Which has its opposite ends connected to the levers of the respective devices, the intermediate portion of the strap being ixedly connected to a ring 20, which is connected to a strap or line 2l, that passes into the body of the vehicle and in convenient reach of the driver, s0 that by pulling upon the line 21 the opposite levers will be operated to simultaneously release the traces.

It will be observed that the lever 10 will engage the outer side of the transverse bar or shoulder 6 at its inward limit, so that it is held out of Contact with the inner end of the spring in order that .the latter will not be subject to pressure, which would destroy the elasticity thereof, and thus frequently require a new spring.

Then the strap 21 is operated to release the levers, it will also serve to hold the thills in an elevated position, so as to permit of the vehicle being guided to avoid obstructions and to prevent the ends of the thills or pole from being driven into the ground.

A horse detacher, comprising a ferrnle which is open at opposite ends, and provided with a longitudinal bifurcation in one side and at the outer end thereof, a transverse stop-shoulder located near the rear or inner end of the bifurcation, a lever having one end fulcrumed at one side of the ferrule and opposite the bifurcation, the free portion of said lever working in the outer portion of the bifurcation, the transverse stop-shoulder being in engagement with the lever at its inward limit and supporting the same in the detached position thereof, a leaf-spring having one end connected to the free end of the lever, and its opposite free end working loosely through the inner end of the bifurcation and in rear of the transverse stop, and also ont of engagement with the lever, the stop forming means for maintaining the lever separated from the spring, a pair of outwardly-directed arms carried by the fel-rule, a rock-bar mounted between the same, and an intermediate transverse pin carried by the bar and normally received within an intermediate perforation in the lever.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM O. VINCENT.

Witnesses:

N. P. PETERSEN, E. L. HoDeEs. 

